The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-02
Randall Must Go to the Rear.


Congressman Grosvenor in an interview in
Washington day OF two ago, spoke of Mr..
Randall us the Democratic leader of the
Republicans Mr. Grosvenor is an Ohio
Republican, and although he admires Mr..
Handa!fs ability, no DOESN'T thini; that he is
quite honest In claiming to be Democrat
while advocating Republican principles.
IL tho course of his talk in Washington Mr.
Grosvcnor said: "Mr. Randall is practi-
cally Republican. Upon all matters Of
principle hc agrees with us. He only stays
in the Democratic party because it suits him
better to do so. He defends tho Democratic
party in speeches on the floor of the House
and in the campaigns, and donouuces the
Republicans as a party. But he thinks
and votes with us upon all the great issues
that distinguish the parties" From this it
seems that by Republicans Mr.. Randall is
recognized as a Republican, and a good
many Democrats have long had doubts
about the genuineness of his Democracy
Can Democrats be blamed, under the cir
cuulstances, forinsisting that he shall not be
given the craftsmanship of all important
and influential committee in the present
Congress! Only Democrats, about whose
adherence to Democratic principles there
is no doubt, should be put in posi-
tions of power in the organization of
the House. In the last Congress Mr. Ran
dali was Chairman of the Committee on
Appropriations committee second only to
that on Ways and Means, and having, in
point of fact, more influence than that COM
mittee--aud did he use his position for tho
success of the issues which the great ma
jority Of his Democratic associates sup
ported3 He certainly did not The Repub-
lican party received moro aid from him
than the Democratic party did.
The question is now being agitat ed by the
Democratic leaders, whether Mr.. Randall
shall be as conspicuously honored in the
present Congress as he was in the last He
ought not to be. If he wants to call HIM
self Democrat let him do so, but let him
take his place in the ranks. If he is recog-
nized as a leader he will gather about him
little band of followers, and do his best to
defeat tariff reform as he did in the Forty
ninth Congress.
The Democratic party cannot reasonably
expect to carry out its policy successfully
if it accepts as one of its leaders a man
whom the Republicans look upon as friendly
to them, and whom they regard as enter
tanning their views upon the leading issues
which divide the parties.
1t appears that even Republicans are get
ting tired of Mr.. Randall in the role he is
playing. They are willing that he and his
followers shall come into the Republican
camp, but they don't want it to appear as if
he were leading them. On this point Mr.
Grosvenor, in his interview said: NOW,
this session, | think he should follow us
If he is going to join in the fight for pro-
lection, let him come in and march in the
rear of our line. He is not going to stand
at the head of the column with his little
band beating the bass drum while the
Republican party follows him Let him
form his little squad, and when he hears the
music at the head of our column, let him
begin to mark time, and then march his fol-
lowers to the tune. His aid will be timely,
but his leadership superfiuous.
Mr.. Randall has great ability and in the
course of his career has rendered the Demo-
cratic party good service No Democrat
wants to see him Inundated. If he cannot
indorse the Democratic party's principles,
however, he ought not to try to embarrass
and obstruct it. If he insists upon antago-
nizing his party he should be kept out of
positions where he can do it harm.